The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-08
FLOYS "REMARKABLE MEMORY
A TRUE STORY.
BY FLORENCE B. HALLowE1u.

Farmer Neal came into his MONDAY
dinner one warm spring day looking wor-
ried and annoyed, and his two sons-fne,
well-grown boys of seventeen and fifteen
who followed him moment later, were
unusually grave.
What's the matter?" asked Mrs. Neal,
looking first at her husband and then at
her eldest boy, and where's Tom?"
The matter is that Tom has told a
falsehood," answered the farmer, and
he won't be in to dinner. I have left
him in the barn to make up his mind
whether he will promise never to let me
catch him in anything of that sort again"
He's as mad as hornet" said Ned,
and won't give in an inch. He sticks
to it that he's told the truth"
What was the falsehood2" asked Mrs.
Neal. Z" 1 have always thought him boy
to be trusted in spite of the bad training
he had before he came here"
Yes; am very much disappointed in
him." rejoined the farmer, as he took his
seat at the table. You know sent him
to Miller's last Tuesday to order one
hundred bushels of oats, to be delivered
to-day; but on Wednesday sent him to
couatermand the order, for L found I
could buy the oats very much cheaper Of
Brady. Well, it seems he never went near
Miller's, and must have spent the hour
he was gone in the woods, for when I
came in from the field to-day at noon I
found Miller putting away the last Of the
hundred bushels. OF course I'm obliged
to keep them now, and it makes differ
ence Of twelve dollars to me-quite an
item. But regret the loss of confidence
in Tom more than anything else"
Floy, the only daughter, standing in
the doorway of the pantry with plate
OF bread in her handle, had listened TO her
father with sparkling eyes, evidently i'm
patient for him to finish, and the moment
he paused she came forward.
Papa, Tom did go to Mr.. Miller's on
Wednesday" she said eagerly, "for I saw
him there, and he talked to Mr.. Miller
some time"
You saw him." repeated the father.
How was that?
Why, I went over to Dolly Cones
that afternoon to learn a stitch in crochet
she wanted to teach me, and from the
window of her room any one can see into
Mr.. Miller's back yard. And Tom water
ed his horse at the pump there"
"Are you sure this was on Wednes-
day?"
"Ot course she is sure" cried Harry
laughingly, before his sister had chance
to reply. "This is only another instance
Of Floy's remarkable memory"
Floy's face flushed and her sensitive
lips quivered.
"Well, am sure, Harry" she said,
and why shouldn't say 80? know
it was Wednesday, because when I went
out noticed that mother had finished all
her ironing, and 1 thought how smart
she had BEEN"
There was silence for a moment, and
then Mr.. Neal said slowly:
Il have never found Floy mistaken,
and Miller is a sharp fellow, always up to
some such trick. He probably wanted
me TO take the oats whether or no, and
had no compunchons about telling a
falsehood. It's just like him. You can
go out and call Tom in, Harry"
Harry rose from the table at once
giving his sister a laughing look as he
passed her.
81 sometimes wish 1 didn't remember
things" exclaimed Floy, the tears filing
her eyes.
But she didn't wish it when she saw
the face of the bound boy when he came
in with Harry few minutes later. Tom
had been crying, and his eyes were red
and swollen; but he smiled family when
he met Floy's kindly glance. Harry had
told him that it was to her he owed his
vindication, and he was deeply grateful.
Il couldn't do enough for you, no mat
ter how hard might try, Floy," he said,
after dinner, following her into the pam
try where he could speak without being
overheard. you inst let me know
when you want anything"
Floy had been leased and joked about
her remarkable memory" almost ever
since enc had been able TO talk, and had
grown very sensitive about it. She was